DOMINION COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2936, 23 November 1916, Page 9

DOMINION COMMERCE

Standing Trade Committee.

CHAMBERS CONFER

IMPORTANT TRADE PROBLEMS

, WAR TOPICS ABOUND

A conference of the Association of Now. Zealand Chambers of Commerce was opened in Wellington yesterday. Mr, James Macintosh f(Wellington Cnambsr) presided. Tlio president, who roso' amidst applause, welcomed the delegates. Ho then asked the Acting-Primo Minister (the Hon. James Allen) to open the conference. Mr. Allen's speech is reported in another column. Tho president moved the adoption of the roporfc and tho balance-sheet. He said: "The report brings tho work of tho association np to date. Before us at this. conference .we have over 50 remits, and a glance at the agenda paper will show that a large proportion of these refer to trado during and after the war. This is in keeping with what lias been done at similar gatherings throughout the world. As mentioned in the report, the great Economic Conference of the Allies held in Paris in. June last recommended: (a) Measures for the war period, (b) transitory measures for the period of commercial, industrial, agricultural,. and maritime reconstruction of the Allied countries, and (c) permanent measures of mutual, assistance and collaboration among the Allies. As the report goes on to say,the keynote of that oonference was an expressed determination 011 the part of the Allies to act in concert to provide for the proper development of their resources, and to mutually defend themselves against any economic policy or measures which might be adoptcd after tho war by present enemy countries to' the detriment of the economic development of the Allied countries. Again, the British Imperial Council of Commcrco at tho conference held in London about the same time urged the following recommendations: —That arrangements 6hould be made at the earliest possible moment to provide:. (a) For , Preferential reciprocal trading relations between all parts of the British Em-, pire; (b) for reciprocal trading relations between the British Empire and theAllied countries; (c) for the favourable treatment of neutral countries; and (d) for restricting by tariffs and otherwise 'trade relations with all enemy, countries so as to render dumping or a return to pre-war' conditions impossible. In effect, the remits which you will be called upon to deal with at this conferenSo endorse these recommendations. We want to make quite sure that when the war is over everything shall he prepared and ready, so far as that is possible, to oegin again our peaceful avocations. In the meantime we should see to it that we husband our- trade and let as little of it as ! possible go to foreign markets, preferring to do without the goods which we cannot obtain within our Empire or from our Allies. A little temporary self-denial - of this kind will do us no harm, and we would, have the satisfaction of knowing we had saved business for our own people. It is agreed on all sides that in .the future we shall in the first place confine our trado withift the borders of our own Empire and secondlv with our Allies." Mr. W. Gow (Dunedin) seconded the motion for the reception of the report and the balance-sheet, and said that the conference was indebted to the president for tho personal efforts ho 1 had made during tho_ year. Also • the ' committee had- done much work, and tliey should receive the thanks of the conference. Obsolete Bankruptcy Machinery. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt (Wellington Central) moved:—"That the Government be again urged to amend ■ the .Bankruptcy Act by giving effect to the' recommendations made at the conferences of 1909 and 1915." Mr. Hunt said that our bankruptcy machinery had grown obsolete and lost its usefulness. Tho idea was to abolish tho Official Assignees and establish in the centres trade assignees, who-would be specialists in particular lines. There had now been nine years of agitation' for/reform, and ,the reform suggested had been affirmed by almost every Chamber in New Zealand, and was practically -uncontested. Mr. James Macintosh seconded, and the motion was agreed to without opposition. Trade Marks. Mr. C. M. Luke (Wellington Central) moved"That _ legislation be introduced making it compulsory for all goods imported into the Dominion to have the country of origin clearly marked on the goods and packages. In every case the seller should be bound to give truo information regarding tho country of origin." Tho motion was seconded by Mr. B. Hall (Wellington Central), ana carried. Duty on British Oil Engines. Mr. E. Anderson (Auckland) complained of the duty of 10 per cent. 011 British oil engines, and-said it was rather a slap in the face for the advocates of Empire trade. Ho was confident the impost was never intended to bear on British manufactures. He moved: —"That tho conference should hcartiljr approve tlio action of the executive in protesting against this increased duty without an equivalent increase on foreign ongines, and should require'that an early opportunity of again bringing tho 'matter before the Government should bo taken." Mr. F. 0. Jenkins (Rodney) seconded tho motion, which was carried. New Industries. • Mr. C. H. Edwards (Napier) moved, and Mr. J.G, Harkness (Wellington) seconded: "That this confercnco gives its hearty support to the following resolution passed by tho Itoyal Colonial Institute, and urges the Government to carry the resolution into opcrtion as far as New Zealand is concerned:—'That with a view to 'encouraging the establishment of new industries in tho British Umpire and giving a measuro of conlidenco and security to capital to be embarked therein, as well as assisting tho expansion of existing industries, tho Governments of tho Empire be urged to mako it obligatory on all Government Departments, municipalities, railways, dock and harbour boards, gas, water, and olectric light corporations, and all such bodies spending public moneys, or enjoying charters from Government or other public authorities, to purchase Empire-made goods, and to place all contracts with British firms, exceptions to bo mado by special permission of proper authority only in cases whero such a course is considered to bo at variance with public interest.' " The motion was carried.

It was resolved, on the motion of Messrs. F. W. Manton (Wellington) and C. 11. Luko (Wellington Central): —"That the executive of the association should bo recommended to set -up a standing.committee to consider trade relations during and after the war. That tliis committee bo asked to take into consideration the recommendations of Che Economic Conforenco held in Paris, and those included in tho Report of the Spccial Committee of tho London Chamber of Commerce, of May, 191.6, together with those which liave been adopted by this association, and that the members of this committee be

requested to keep themselves'acquainted with suggested, alterations in trado relations with a view to advising, so as to safeguard the interests of commerce in Now Zealand." New Zealand Trade Commissioners. Mr. C. W. Parker (Marlborough) moved: "That this confcrenco urges upon the the advisability of. appointing immediately after the war competent commercial men as Trade Commissioners in Allied countries." _ Mr. A. Leigh Hunt (Wellington Central) moved as an amendment that tho proposal should bo made to apply to "such Allied and neutral countries as are likey to bo come purchasers of our products." The amendment was lost,. and the inoißm was carried. Biils of Lading. On the motion of Mr. T. B, Williams (Wanganui) it was resolved: "That steps be taken to have the freight primago imposed by British shipping companies on goods shipped to and from England abolished.", Tho conference will be continued today.